The Owl’s Head Trail is in the Scraggly Lake Public Reserved Land, comprised of about 9,000 acres just short of the Matagamon Gate of Baxter State Park’s north entrance. After a long bumpy drive up Scraggly Lake Road in northern Penobscot County (be sure to check out Sawtelle Brook and Deadwater feeding into Sawtelle Falls on the way), the Owl’s Head Trail trailhead is clearly marked on a curve just before the outlet of Scraggly Lake to Scraggly Brook, with a map and kiosk, as well as bathroom facilities further down the road. Maine Parks and Lands has a map here. Remember to download or print out the map before you go, as you won’t find cell service here.
I hiked this trail, listed by Maine Trailfinder as 4 miles round-trip, in about an hour and-a-half, just after some hard rains on a mid-September afternoon. I did eschew the terminal lollipop loop for a simple out-and-back to the top of Owl’s Head, so mileage may vary. The trail starts out as a soft, easy blue-blazed trail through mossy woods. The forest was very quiet and full of stately cedar trees, wild mushrooms, ferns and bright green moss. Soon, the lake was visible through the trees to my left.
The viewpoint at about 6/10 of a mile has an expansive view of the lake with a bench upon which to reflect. The squawking of jays dominated the sounds on the trail. A second viewpoint at about a mile was much the same, with a wooden bench overlooking the lake, mostly empty of boat traffic. The lake, with a maximum depth of 70 feet, is popular for salmon and brook trout, and is no longer stocked, as the wild population of landlocked salmon is sufficiently healthy. Its unique name is said to draw from the irregular shape of its shoreline. The terrain of the path rolls a bit more after this second viewpoint, but it’s still an easy trail, hugging the lakeshore in the shadow of massive hemlock trees, and the openings in the shoreline continued.
I enjoyed the placid lake, serenaded by the sounds of belted kingfisher and loons. Shortly before 1.4 miles, a trail came up from the shoreline marked Owl’s Head Trail. This is the access to the Owl’s Head from the water, which used to be the sole route. Stone steps lead upward, where the trail is a bit more overgrown and blocked by a few deadfalls, but the blue blazes make it easy to pick your way through to the top of the Owl’s Head (930 ft).
From the elevation of the Owl’s Head, I could see the entire lake, as well as the Traveler and its acolytes in the northern part of Baxter State Park, and Katahdin through the fog to the southwest. Ireland Pond and the hills and lakes of Aroostook County lie to the north. The trail continued its loop, but I turned and headed back downhill. Along the trail back, I saw a northern flicker with its trademark white tuft in the back flashing as it departed. The sun was coming out as I reached my vehicle, and I stepped back in, having had the trail to myself the whole time in this remote, beautiful place.
Hiking in Maine 